My understanding is that there is room in the new International Terminal for expansion by domestic carriers, especially on the pier A side. A refurbish/remodel of the old int'l terminal will not happen until there is sufficient demand for that many more gates - which could be probably 10 or so narrow-body gates.

Thanks for the update on Pier A Legacyins. I drove out there this afternoon to check out what is the now gutted former, former international terminal. Another piece of aviation history about to be removed.

Was/Is airTran still departing from the New International Terminal?
Or was I dreaming that?

Quoting Christao17 (Reply 6):My understanding is that there is room in the new International Terminal for expansion by domestic carriers

With the old Pier A gone, the east side of the southern concourse of the New International Terminal can finally be used...and since the existing international carriers are doing fine with what they currently have, it makes only perfect sense to open up that space to domestics.

I have seen Air France and KLM over there, with NW at the tip, with the old pier gone, that should open up three (3) VERY LARGE gates.

Quoting 28L28L (Reply 7):Another piece of aviation history about to be removed.

Yeah thats too bad, but SFO has done nothing to maintain the upkeep.

Last time I flew out of there was in '97, and the place had been remodeled and added on to so many times over the years, that there really wasn't anything historically significant left.

I don't think SFO has the money to tear it down and build a new terminal in its place....and if they had that kind of money, they should hire the world's best lawyers to tackle the issue of runways...they need to reclaim some of the Bay, and that is THE ONLY option, but enviromental groups liken the plan to Armageddon....

The most beautiful terminal buildings in the world don't mean squat if the airport is terminally delayed all the time! (Ha, a lame pun!)

Last time I flew out of there was in '97, and the place had been remodeled and added on to so many times over the years, that there really wasn't anything historically significant left.

I don't think SFO has the money to tear it down and build a new terminal in its place....and if they had that kind of money, they should hire the world's best lawyers to tackle the issue of runways...they need to reclaim some of the Bay, and that is THE ONLY option, but enviromental groups liken the plan to Armageddon....

The most beautiful terminal buildings in the world don't mean squat if the airport is terminally delayed all the time! (Ha, a lame pun!)

I think what everyone is forgetting is that before the 1980's, the old councourse A was the international councourse, originally six gates, then the routunda was added in the mid 70's - the routunda was meant to be the start of a total airport renovation, that would have included more like terminals, but it never went beyond that. It was always odd to walk to the end of the original A, then turn right and go up into the newer part, had the plan gone through, the original A would have been demolished for a new finger to connect it to the terminal building. I remember Pan Am 707's, 747's, Phillipine DC10's, Qantas 747-200's, and the excitement with BA returned with service to London, and then LH came in, they all parked on A once upon a time. Now it's all gone.

You used to be able to meet international flights at the gate, there was a sterile area enclosed in glass, and you could follow your arriving passenger to the point where they had to walk downstairs to clear customs. After the new (former Central) international terminal opened, PSA took over all of this, and got rid of the sterile area. They were operating out of there when the Borg Cube known as USAir swooped in and bought 'em, and USAir stayed there until they consolidated with HP in the old TWA gates.

Quoting MtnWest1979 (Reply 13):Not that it was that old or historic ( as an Intl Terminal). It became the International Terminal in what, 1982 or so? I remember fondly of traversing the Central Terminal in the 70s on UA and such.

Yep.
The only thing historically redeeming was that it was the original "modern era" terminal, opening in the early 1950s....but it has been remodeled so many times, the cool blue window panels, that made it unique looking, have been gone for about 30 years....I always thought the enormous central hall, if restored to original condition would be something....but totally out of place in today's world.
Too bad this ain't Oslo, where they can just slap the whole thing on a trailer and move it someplace else.

But two of those 3 new gates would also make great A380 gates. The one closest to the terminal would be more limited assuming they will also add 3 gates to the domestic concourse as on the mirror side of the airport (4 won't fit).

But 2 A380/748 capable gates and 1 777/A340 gate would be a nice conclusion to the International terminal project.